JP4437168B1 - Route guidance system, route search server, route search mediation server, and route guidance method - Google Patents

Abstract

In a route guidance system that searches for a route that crosses a country or region and guides the route, route guidance is performed in response to a case where the language of the country or region to be guided is different. In the route guidance system including the first and second route search servers 30A and 30B and the terminal device 20 each having the first and second areas as service providing areas, when the terminal device 20 makes a route search request, In the route search server 30A, the second route search server 30B is determined, and the recommended route is determined by searching and combining the routes in each area. When the language used by the route search server is different from the language used by the terminal device 20, the route search information for guiding the recommended route is translated into the language used by the terminal device 20 except for reserved words such as proper nouns. Provided to apparatus 20.
[Selection] Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a route guidance system that searches for and guides candidate routes from an arbitrary departure place to a destination using walking, automobiles, or public transportation, and in particular, using roads and transportation. Route guidance system, route search server, route search mediation server, and route guidance method for performing route guidance in response to a case where the language of the country or region to be guided is different when searching for a route that crosses a country or region It is about.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a navigation device and a navigation system that guide a user by searching for a route from a desired departure place to a destination using map data and road data are known. As such a navigation device and navigation system, a car navigation device that is installed in an automobile and guides a route to a driver, a mobile phone is used as a terminal device for navigation, and a route search condition is specified when used. A communication type navigation system that transmits a route search request to the route search server, performs route search based on the route search condition in the route search server, and transmits the result to the car navigation device or the mobile phone to provide route guidance Has been put to practical use.

  In particular, a communication-type navigation system that uses a mobile phone as a terminal device for navigation may be used as a navigation system for pedestrians. When used as a navigation system for pedestrians, the communication type navigation system preferably has a route guidance function including a case of using a transportation facility. Therefore, in addition to searching and guidance for walking routes, routes and operating time data of transportation such as railways, airplanes, and buses are stored in the route search server, and routes from the desired departure point to the desired destination (boarding candidates) There is also a navigation system having a function of guiding a train or the like) in addition to searching and guiding a walking route. There is also a traffic guidance system that receives and displays information on routes, timetables, and trains that can be boarded from an information distribution server without searching for walking routes.

  The route search server includes a database in which the positions of nodes and inflection points are used as nodes for each road (route) included in the map data, and the route connecting each node is registered as a link. Cost information (distance and required time) is stored in association with each link. Then, the route search server refers to the database, sequentially searches for links from the departure node to the destination node, and traces the node and link with the smallest cost information of the link as a guide route. The shortest route can be guided to the portable navigation terminal. As such a route search method, a method called label determination method or Dijkstra method is used. Patent Document 1 below also discloses a route search method using this Dijkstra method.

  A route search system that searches for routes that use transportation is a database of operation time data of each transportation based on route search conditions such as departure date, departure location, destination, arrival time specified by the user. It has a time database and data that makes the traffic network a database based on this. Then, referring to these databases, each available means of transportation (individual trains and route buses) connecting the departure point and destination, including connections (transfers), is sequentially traced to meet the route search conditions. It is configured to present one or more candidates for a guide route (departure station, destination station, route, train, etc.). As route search conditions, it is also possible to specify conditions such as required time, number of transfers, and fare.

  Incidentally, map data and network data for route search provided in a general route guidance system are data of areas (called service target areas) in which the system provides route guidance services. For example, a normal route guidance system has a country in a certain country as a service target area, or a specific region in a certain country as a service target area.

  In that case, there is no problem in route search and route guidance as long as the departure point and the destination are within the service target area of the route guidance system. However, a language problem arises if the departure location is within a country, and the destination is within another country with a different language and within the service area of a different route search server. In other words, when a route search is performed from a route search server that uses the departure area as a service providing area to a route search server that uses the destination area as a service provision area, the display screen of the mobile phone or navigation device Route guidance in the language used by the route search server that uses the local area as the service providing area is displayed. This is inconvenient for the user.

  Therefore, Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-315036) below provides map information of the current position on the communication line network based on the absolute position information of the moving point transmitted from the mobile phone that operates roaming in a foreign country. A map information providing method and an acquisition method by which a mobile phone can easily and surely acquire local map information by converting the explanatory characters on the screen of the map information into a desired language and providing it on a communication network. Is disclosed.

JP 2002-315036 A

  However, if the explanatory characters included in the map information are language-converted as disclosed in Patent Document 1 below, when the place is visited, the display language that is actually displayed at a street corner or the like, and the terminal There is a problem that the display language displayed on the device is different, and the user cannot intuitively determine whether or not the map displayed on the terminal device matches the current position.

  Therefore, in view of the above problems, the present invention conforms to the language supported by the terminal device when searching for a route from a certain departure point to a destination located in the service target area of another route search server. In the route guidance information, a translation server translates a guide sentence other than a reserved word registered in advance, such as a place name, a vehicle name, and a route name, and sets the translated reserved word and an untranslated guide sentence. Another object of the present invention is to provide a route guidance system configured to display a place name and a route name in a local language while displaying them in a language understandable by a user in the terminal apparatus by distributing them to the terminal apparatus.

In order to solve the above problems, the first invention of the present application is:
A route configured by connecting a first route search server having a first area as a service providing area, a second route search server having a second area as a service providing area, and a terminal device and a translation server via a network. A guidance system,
The first route search server includes server determination means for determining a route search server that uses an area including a point indicated by point information as a route search condition received from the terminal device as a service providing area,
The second route search server includes route search means for searching for an optimum route that satisfies the route search condition, and guide information editing means for creating route guide information based on data of the optimum route searched by the route search means. Output language determination means for determining whether or not the route guidance information is a language to be output to the terminal device, and text extraction means for extracting a guide sentence excluding reserved words from the route guidance information,
The terminal device stores language information to be displayed,
When the terminal device transmits the point information and the language information as route search conditions to the first route search server to make a route search request, the server determination unit of the first route search server may When the area including the point to be shown is the second area, it is determined that the route search server having the area as a service providing area is the second route search server, and the first route search server Sending the point information and the language information to the second route search server to request a route search;
The second route search server searches for an optimum route that satisfies the route search condition by the route search means, and the guidance information editing means creates route guidance information based on the searched optimum route data, Send to the first route search server together with data of the optimum route;
The first route search server transmits information on the optimum route received from the second route search server and route guidance information to the terminal device,
In the second route search server, the output language determination means determines whether or not the language of the route guidance information is a language specified by the language information. If the language is not the language information, the text extraction means Extracts a guide sentence excluding reserved words from the route guidance information and requests translation to the translation server, and the translation server translates the guide sentence into the language of the language information and transmits it to the second route search server. Then, the guidance information editing means of the second route search server creates translated route guidance information combining the translated guidance sentence and the reserved word, and converts the translated route guidance information into the first route information. It transmits to a route search server or the said terminal device, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  Further, in one aspect of the route guidance system according to the first invention of the present application, the second route search server outputs an output language when a route guidance request is made based on the route guidance information transmitted to the terminal device. The determination unit determines whether or not the language of the route guidance information is a language specified by the language information. If the language is not the language of the language information, the text extraction unit removes the reserved word from the route guidance information. A guide sentence is extracted and a translation request is made to the translation server, and the translation server translates the guide sentence into the language of the language information and transmits it to the second route search server. The guide information editing means creates translated route guidance information that combines the translated guide sentence and the reserved word, and transmits the translated route guidance information to the terminal device. That.

  Also, in one aspect of the route guidance system according to the first invention of the present application, the second route search server searches for an optimum route satisfying the route search condition by the route search means, and the guidance information editing means is the search information. Route guidance information is created based on the data of the optimum route, and the output language determination means determines whether or not the language of the route guidance information is a language specified by the language information, and is not the language of the language information In this case, the text extracting unit extracts a guide sentence excluding reserved words from the route guide information and requests the translation server to translate, and the translation server translates the guide sentence into the language of the language information. The translated route guidance information that is transmitted to the second route search server, and the guidance information editing means of the second route search server combines the translated guidance sentence and the reserved word. Creating, and transmitting the translated route guidance information to said first route search server.

  Further, in one aspect of the route guidance system according to the first invention of the present application, the route search condition includes a departure place in the first area, and the first route search server includes route search means, the first area Candidate contact extraction means for extracting point information of at least one candidate contact that can reach the second area from the route, the route search means of the first route search server from the departure point to the candidate contact An optimum route is searched and transmitted to the terminal device together with information on the optimum route received from the second route search server.

  Further, in one aspect of the route guidance system according to the first invention of the present application, the route guidance information includes the reserved word and the guidance sentence, and the reserved word is a unique name including a place name and a route name, and the guidance A sentence is a sentence that guides a route.

  Also, in one aspect of the route guidance system according to the first invention of the present application, the second route search server creates and creates each screen for displaying information including the route guidance information on the terminal device in XML. A route search application screen creation means for extracting the text excluding reserved words from the screen data included in the XML and the route guidance information, and requesting the translation server to translate the guidance information editing means. Is characterized in that the translated text and reserved words are combined to create translated screen data.

The second invention of the present application is
A route configured by connecting a first route search server having a first area as a service providing area, a second route search server having a second area as a service providing area, and a terminal device and a translation server via a network. A route search server constituting the first route search server in the guidance system,
Comprising server determination means for determining a route search server having an area including a point indicated by point information as a route search condition received from the terminal device as a service providing area;
When a route search request including point information as route search conditions and language information to be displayed on the terminal device is received from the terminal device, an area including the point indicated by the point information by the server determination unit is the second area. If there is, the route search server having the area as a service providing area is determined to be the second route search server, and the point information and the language information as the route search condition are transmitted to the second route search server. When requesting route search and receiving translated route guidance information that is created in the second route search server and translated only by the translation server except for reserved words, the translated route guidance information is sent to the terminal device. It is characterized by transmitting to.

The third invention of the present application is
A route configured by connecting a first route search server having a first area as a service providing area, a second route search server having a second area as a service providing area, and a terminal device and a translation server via a network. A route search server constituting the second route search server in the guidance system,
Route search means for searching for an optimum route satisfying a route search condition from the terminal device, guidance information editing means for creating route guidance information based on data of the optimum route searched by the route search means, and the route Output language determination means for determining whether or not the guidance information is a language to be output to the terminal device; and text extraction means for extracting a guidance sentence excluding reserved words from the route guidance information,
The second route search server searches for an optimum route that satisfies the route search condition by the route search means, and the guidance information editing means creates route guidance information based on the searched optimum route data, Send to the first route search server together with the data of the optimum route;
In the second route search server, the output language determination means determines whether or not the language of the route guidance information is a language specified by the language information. If the language is not the language information, the text extraction means Extracts a guide sentence excluding reserved words from the route guidance information and requests translation to the translation server, and the translation server translates the guide sentence into the language of the language information and transmits it to the second route search server. Then, the guidance information editing means of the second route search server creates translated route guidance information combining the translated guidance sentence and the reserved word, and converts the translated route guidance information into the first route information. It transmits to a route search server or the said terminal device, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  In one aspect of the route search server according to the second invention or the third invention of the present application, the route search condition includes a departure place in the first area, and the first route search server includes route search means, Candidate contact extraction means for extracting point information of at least one candidate contact that can reach the second area from one area, and the route search means of the first route search server includes the candidate contact from the departure point. And searching for an optimum route to the terminal device and transmitting the information to the terminal device together with the information on the optimum route received from the second route search server.

The fourth invention of the present application is
A route that constitutes one of the plurality of route search servers in a route guidance system configured by connecting a plurality of route search servers each having a different area as a service providing area, a terminal device, and a translation server via a network A search server,
A server determination unit that determines a route search server that uses an area including a point indicated by point information as a route search condition received from the terminal device as a service providing area; and a route search that searches for an optimal route that satisfies the route search condition Means, guide information editing means for creating route guidance information based on the data of the optimum route searched by the route search means, and output for determining whether or not the route guidance information is a language to be output to the terminal device Language determination means, and text extraction means for extracting a guidance sentence excluding reserved words from the route guidance information,
When receiving a route search request including the point information as the route search condition and the language information to be displayed on the terminal device from the terminal device, the server determination unit services the point indicated by the point information as the route search condition. The route search server that determines the route search server to be provided, sends the point information and the language information as the route search conditions to the determined route search server, requests the route search, and requests the route search If the route guidance information is received from the terminal device, the route guidance information is transmitted to the terminal device,
When a route search request including point information and language information as route search conditions is received from another route search server, the route search means searches for an optimum route that satisfies the route search conditions, and the guide information editing means Create route guidance information based on the searched optimum route data and send it to the other route search server together with the optimum route data,
The output language determination means determines whether or not the language of the route guidance information is a language specified by the language information. If the language is not the language information, the text extraction means reserves from the route guidance information. When a guide sentence excluding a word is extracted and a translation request is made to the translation server, and the guide sentence translated into the language of the language information is received from the translation server, the guide information editing means reads the translated guide sentence A translated route guidance information combining the reserved word and the reserved word is created and provided to another route search server or the terminal device that has received a route search request.

  Also, in one aspect of the route search server according to the fourth invention of the present application, the route search condition includes a departure place in an area, and the route search server can reach the other area from the area with route search means. Candidate contact point extracting means for extracting point information of at least one candidate contact point, wherein the route search means of the route search server searches for an optimum route from the starting point to the candidate contact point, and the other route. It transmits to the said terminal device with the information of the said optimal path | route received from the search server, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  In one aspect of the route search server according to the second to fourth inventions of the present application, the route guidance information is composed of the reserved word and the guidance sentence, and the reserved word is a unique name including a place name and a route name. Yes, the guide sentence is a sentence for guiding a route.

  Moreover, in one aspect of the route search server according to the second to fourth inventions of the present application, the route search server is configured by XML to display each screen for displaying information including the route guidance information on the terminal device. A route search application screen creation means for creating, wherein the text extraction means extracts text excluding reserved words from the screen data included in the XML and the route guidance information, requests translation to the translation server, and edits the guidance information The means is characterized in that the translated text and reserved words are combined to create translated screen data.

The fifth invention of the present application is
A route configured by connecting a first route search server having a first area as a service providing area, a second route search server having a second area as a service providing area, and a terminal device and a translation server via a network. A route guidance method in a guidance system,
The terminal device stores language information to be displayed,
Sending point information and the language information as route search conditions from the terminal device to the first route search server to make a route search request,
When the area including the point indicated by the point information is the second area, the first route search server determines that the route search server having the area as a service providing area is the second route search server, Sending the point information and the language information as the route search condition to the second route search server to request a route search,
The second route search server searches for an optimum route that satisfies the route search information, creates route guidance information based on the searched optimum route data, and the first route search together with the optimum route data. To the server,
In the second route search server, it is determined whether or not the language of the route guidance information is a language specified by the language information. If the language is not the language of the language information, a reserved word is excluded from the route guidance information. Extract the guide text and request translation to the translation server.
The translation server translates the guidance sentence into the language of the language information and transmits it to the second route search server,
The second route search server creates translated route guidance information that combines the translated guide sentence and the reserved word, and transmits the translated route guidance information to the terminal device via the first route search server. It is characterized by that.

  Further, in one aspect of the route guidance method according to the fifth invention of the present application, the second route search server outputs an output language when a route guidance request is made based on the route guidance information transmitted to the terminal device. The determination unit determines whether or not the language of the route guidance information is a language specified by the language information. If the language is not the language of the language information, the text extraction unit removes the reserved word from the route guidance information. A guide sentence is extracted and a translation request is made to the translation server, and the translation server translates the guide sentence into the language of the language information and transmits it to the second route search server. The guide information editing means creates translated route guidance information that combines the translated guide sentence and the reserved word, and transmits the translated route guidance information to the terminal device.

  In the route guidance method according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the second route search server searches the route search means for an optimum route that satisfies the route search condition, and the guide information editing means is the search information Route guidance information is created based on the data of the optimum route, and the output language determination means determines whether or not the language of the route guidance information is a language specified by the language information, and is not the language of the language information In this case, the text extracting unit extracts a guide sentence excluding reserved words from the route guide information and requests the translation server to translate, and the translation server translates the guide sentence into the language of the language information. Transmitted to the second route search server, and the guide information editing means of the second route search server creates translated route guide information that combines the translated guide sentence and the reserved word. And, and transmits the translated route guidance information to said first route search server.

  Moreover, in one aspect of the route guidance method according to the fifth invention of the present application, the route search condition includes a departure place in the first area, and the first route search server includes route search means, and the first area. Candidate contact extraction means for extracting point information of at least one candidate contact that can reach the second area from the route, the route search means of the first route search server from the departure point to the candidate contact An optimum route is searched and transmitted to the terminal device together with information on the optimum route received from the second route search server.

  Also, in one aspect of the route guidance method according to the fifth invention of the present application, the route guidance information includes the reserved word and the guidance sentence, and the reserved word is a unique name including a place name and a route name, and the guidance A sentence is a sentence that guides a route.

  Further, in one aspect of the route guidance method according to the fifth invention of the present application, the second route search server creates and creates each screen for displaying information including the route guidance information on the terminal device in XML. A route search application screen creation means for extracting the text excluding reserved words from the screen data included in the XML and the route guidance information, and requesting the translation server to translate the guidance information editing means. Is characterized in that the translated text and reserved words are combined to create translated screen data.

The sixth invention of the present application is
A first route search server having a first area as a service providing area, a second route search server having a second area as a service providing area, and at least the first area connected to the first route search server via a network. A route guidance system comprising a terminal device and a route search mediation server connected to a plurality of route search servers,
The route search mediation server includes an area including a point indicated by point information as a route search condition received from the first route search server when receiving the point information determined that the first route search server is not a service providing area. Comprising a server determination means for determining a route search server having a service providing area as a service provision area,
The second route search server includes route search means for searching for an optimum route that satisfies the route search condition, and guide information editing means for creating route guide information based on data of the optimum route searched by the route search means. Output language determination means for determining whether or not the route guidance information is a language to be output to the terminal device, and text extraction means for extracting a guide sentence excluding reserved words from the route guidance information,
The terminal device stores language information to be displayed,
When the terminal device makes a route search request by transmitting the point information and the language information as route search conditions to the first route search server, the server determination means of the first route search server indicates the point indicated by the point information. When it is determined that the point indicated by the point information is not within the service providing area of the first route search server, the first route search server uses the point information and the language information as the route search condition. To the route search mediation server to request a route search,
In the route search mediating server, the route search server having the point as a service providing area by the server determination unit based on the route search request information received from the first route search server is the second route search server. If determined, the point information and the language information as the route search condition are transmitted to the second route search server,
The second route search server searches for an optimum route that satisfies the route search condition by the route search means, and the guidance information editing means creates route guidance information based on the searched optimum route data, Send to the route search intermediary server together with the data of the optimum route,
The route search mediation server transmits information on the optimum route received from the second route search server and route guidance information to the terminal device,
In the second route search server, the output language determination means determines whether or not the language of the route guidance information is a language specified by the language information. If the language is not the language information, the text extraction means Extracts a guide sentence excluding reserved words from the route guidance information and requests translation to the translation server, and the translation server translates the guide sentence into the language of the language information and transmits it to the second route search server. Then, the guide information editing means of the second route search server creates translated route guidance information combining the translated guide sentence and the reserved word, and searches the route guidance information for the translated route guidance information. It transmits to a mediation server or the said terminal device, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  Further, in one aspect of the route guidance system according to the sixth invention of the present application, the second route search server outputs an output language when a route guidance request is made based on the route guidance information transmitted to the terminal device. The determination unit determines whether or not the language of the route guidance information is a language specified by the language information. If the language is not the language of the language information, the text extraction unit removes the reserved word from the route guidance information. A guide sentence is extracted and a translation request is made to the translation server, and the translation server translates the guide sentence into the language of the language information and transmits it to the second route search server. The guide information editing means creates translated route guidance information that combines the translated guide sentence and the reserved word, and transmits the translated route guidance information to the terminal device. That.

  Also, in one aspect of the route guidance system according to the sixth invention of the present application, the second route search server searches for an optimum route satisfying the route search condition by the route search means, and the guidance information editing means is the search information. Route guidance information is created based on the data of the optimum route, and the output language determination means determines whether or not the language of the route guidance information is a language specified by the language information, and is not the language of the language information In this case, the text extracting unit extracts a guide sentence excluding reserved words from the route guide information and requests the translation server to translate, and the translation server translates the guide sentence into the language of the language information. The translated route guidance information that is transmitted to the second route search server, and the guidance information editing means of the second route search server combines the translated guidance sentence and the reserved word. Creating, and transmitting the translated route guidance information to said route search intermediate server.

  In the route guidance system according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the route search condition includes a departure place in the first area, and the first route search server includes route search means, the first area Candidate contact extraction means for extracting point information of at least one candidate contact that can reach another area from, the route search means of the first route search server from the departure location to the candidate contact The route search mediation server is searched for and transmitted to the route search mediation server, and the route search mediation server includes candidate contact extraction means, and the candidate contact received from the first route search server and the optimum route to the candidate contact The candidate contact point that reaches the area where the second route search server determined by the server determination determines that the service is provided is extracted, and the extracted candidate contact point and the candidate contact point are reached. Information on the optimum route is transmitted to the second route search server, information on the optimum route from the candidate contact point to the point searched by the second route search server from the second route search server, and information on the optimum route When the route guidance information created based on the information is received, the information on the optimum route and the route guidance information are transmitted to the first route search server.

  In one aspect of the route guidance system according to the sixth invention of the present application, the route guidance information includes the reserved word and the guidance sentence, and the reserved word is a unique name including a place name and a route name. A sentence is a sentence that guides a route.

  Also, in one aspect of the route guidance system according to the sixth invention of the present application, the second route search server creates and creates each screen for displaying information including the route guidance information on the terminal device in XML. A route search application screen creation means for extracting the text excluding reserved words from the screen data included in the XML and the route guidance information, and requesting the translation server to translate the guidance information editing means. Is characterized in that the translated text and reserved words are combined to create translated screen data.

The seventh invention of the present application is
A first route search server having a first area as a service providing area, a second route search server having a second area as a service providing area, and at least the first area connected to the first route search server via a network. A route search intermediary server constituting a route guidance system comprising a terminal device and a route search intermediary server connected to a plurality of route search servers,
The route search mediation server includes an area including a point indicated by point information as a route search condition received from the first route search server when receiving the point information determined that the first route search server is not a service providing area. Comprising a server determination means for determining a route search server having a service providing area as a service provision area,
The second route search server includes route search means for searching for an optimum route that satisfies the route search condition, and guide information editing means for creating route guide information based on data of the optimum route searched by the route search means. Output language determination means for determining whether or not the route guidance information is a language to be output to the terminal device, and text extraction means for extracting a guidance sentence excluding reserved words from the route guidance information, The route search means searches for an optimum route that satisfies the route search condition, and the guidance information editing means creates route guidance information based on the searched optimum route data, and the route search mediation together with the optimum route data. To the server,
The terminal device stores language information to be displayed,
When the terminal device makes a route search request by transmitting the point information and the language information as route search conditions to the first route search server, the server determination means of the first route search server indicates the point indicated by the point information. When it is determined that the point indicated by the point information is not within the service providing area of the first route search server, the first route search server uses the point information and the language information as the route search condition. To the route search mediation server to request a route search,
In the route search mediating server, the route search server having the point as a service providing area by the server determination unit based on the route search request information received from the first route search server is the second route search server. In the case of determination, the location information and the language information as the route search conditions are transmitted to the second route search server, and the information on the optimum route received from the second route search server and the route guidance information are transmitted to the terminal. It transmits to an apparatus, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  Also, in one aspect of the route search mediating server according to the seventh invention of the present application, the second route search server searches for an optimum route satisfying the route search condition by the route search means, and the guide information editing means is The route guidance information is created based on the searched optimum route data, and the output language determination means determines whether or not the language of the route guidance information is a language specified by the language information. If not, the text extraction means extracts a guidance sentence excluding reserved words from the route guidance information and requests translation to the translation server, and the translation server translates the guidance sentence into the language of the language information. To the second route search server, and the guide information editing means of the second route search server sends the translated route guide information combining the translated guide sentence and the reserved word. The translated route guidance information is transmitted to the route search mediation server, and the route search mediation server transmits the route guidance information received from the second route search server to the first route search server. It is characterized by that.

  In the first invention, when the language used in the terminal device does not match the language used by the route search server for providing the service, the guidance sentence excluding reserved words that are unique names such as place names and route names is used in the terminal device. By providing the terminal device with route guidance information that is translated into the language and combined with the reserved words that are used in the language used by the route search server, the terminal device can use the reserved words such as proper nouns as they are, but not reserved words. Can receive route guidance in the language used by the terminal device, and the display of the route guidance information can be easily compared with the display of local maps, proper nouns, etc. of the guide map.

  That is, for example, when the language used by the terminal device is the first language (for example, English) and the language for providing the service of the route search server in the area B is the second language (for example, Japanese), In the route guidance information, the reserved word remains in the second language, and information other than the reserved word is translated into the first language to be route guidance information. Therefore, the terminal device is in area B (second language (Japanese ), The route guidance information in area B can be displayed in English, and reserved words such as proper nouns are not translated into English but remain in Japanese. You can easily understand the correspondence with guide maps (in Japanese) and signs posted on the site.

  In the second invention to the fourth invention of the present application, it becomes possible to provide a route search server constituting the route guidance system according to the first invention of the present application. In the fifth invention of the present application, the first invention of the present application is provided. A route guidance method in the route guidance system according to the present invention can be provided. Further, in the sixth invention of the present application, a route guidance system similar to that of the present invention 1 using a route search mediating server can be provided. In the seventh invention of the present application, the route guidance according to the sixth invention of the present application is provided. A route search mediating server constituting the system can be provided.

It is a system configuration figure showing the composition of the route guidance system concerning the present invention. It is a system configuration diagram for explaining the concept of route search and route guidance of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the detailed structure of a route search server and a terminal device. 4A and 4B are diagrams showing examples of screens created by applications that support different languages. FIG. 4A is a diagram showing an initial screen for a route search request created in Japanese, and FIG. 4B is created in Chinese. FIG. 5A shows an example of a route guidance screen. FIG. 5A shows a route guidance screen in a second language (Japanese) created in the second route search server, and FIG. 5B shows a route guidance corresponding to FIG. 7A. In information, it is a figure which shows the route guidance screen in which the other text information except the reserved word was translated from the 2nd language (Japanese) to the 1st language (English). FIG. 5C is a diagram illustrating a case where all the route guidance information corresponding to FIG. 5A is translated into the first language (English). It is a conceptual diagram explaining the road network data used for the route search of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram explaining the traffic network data used for the route search of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement procedure of the 1st route search server of the area A shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement procedure of the 2nd route search server of the area B shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation procedure according to the second embodiment of the second route search server in the area B illustrated in FIG. 2. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the route search mediation server concerning Example 3 of this invention.

  Hereinafter, specific examples of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to examples and drawings. However, the embodiment shown below exemplifies a route guidance system for embodying the technical idea of the present invention, and is not intended to identify the present invention as this route guidance system. The present invention is equally applicable to the route guidance systems of other embodiments included in the claims.

  FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing the configuration of a route guidance system 10 according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the route guidance system 10 includes a terminal device 20 connected via a network 12, a first route search server 30 </ b> A, a second route search server 30 </ b> B, and a translation server 40. The first and second route search servers 30A and 30B of the route guidance system 10 each set a specific country or region as an area for providing route search and route guidance services. Each of the first and second route search servers 30A and 30B has only map data and route search network data covering a specific service providing area.

  Further, the route guidance system 10 includes a POI information distribution server 50 that provides detailed information such as the location of POIs (Point of Interest) belonging to various categories and service contents, and various types of content and other information such as music and various images. The information distribution server 51 and the like are provided. As a result, the first and second route search servers 30A and 30B can acquire necessary data from the POI information distribution server 50 and other information distribution servers 51 via the network 12 and add them to their own databases. . Similarly, the first and second route search servers 30A and 30B can also transmit a search request to the POI information distribution server 50 or the information distribution server 51 to obtain a desired search result.

  The route guidance system 10 according to the present invention is not limited to the above configuration, and the first and second route search servers 30A and 30B themselves have a map distribution server function that distributes a map of POI locations together with a navigation function. You may do it. The terminal device 20 may employ a mobile phone, and may be a portable device such as a PDA, a music player, a portable game machine, or a mobile personal computer (PC).

  The first and second route search servers 30A and 30B shown in FIG. 1 include map databases 32A and 32B and route search network databases 33A and 33B, respectively, and when there is a route search request from the terminal device 20, the route search network The route is searched with reference to the databases 33A and 33B. Then, the route guidance information of the optimum route and the candidate route obtained from the route search result is transmitted to the terminal device 20. Further, when there is a request for obtaining map data related to a desired point or POI search from the terminal device 20, the corresponding map data is read with reference to the map databases 32 </ b> A and 32 </ b> B and distributed to the terminal device 20.

  The route searching network databases 33A and 33B are road network data 331A and 331B (see FIG. 3) for searching a route by foot or car, and a route that travels using a transportation system such as a railway, an aircraft, a ship, or a bus. Traffic network data 332A and 332B for searching for the traffic. Each network data will be described in detail later.

  In the terminal device 20, a route search condition including a departure point, a destination, a moving means (aside from walking, automobile, transportation, etc.), a time condition such as a departure time, etc. is set, and the first and second route search servers 30A. , 30B, the first and second route search servers 30A, 30B refer to the network data of the route search network databases 33A, 33B, respectively, and meet the route search conditions from the departure point to the destination. The optimum route or a plurality of candidate routes to be searched is searched, route guidance information is created and distributed to the terminal device 20. When a plurality of candidate routes are searched, when the route is selected by the terminal device 20 and a route guidance request is made, map data, selected route data, and guidance data for guiding the route are sent to the terminal device 20. Sent.

  In the present invention, when different route search servers that use different areas as service providing areas cooperate with each other and there are departure points and destinations in areas where the different route search servers provide services, The optimum route from the destination to the destination is searched as a recommended route and can be guided.

  FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram for explaining the concept of route search and route guidance of the present invention by cooperation of such route search servers. In FIG. 2, the first route search server 30A sets area A as a service providing area, and the second route search server 30B sets area B as a service providing area. The first route search server 30A uses the first language as the service providing language, and the second route search server 30B uses the second language as the service providing language. In the following example, the first language is described as English and the second language is described as Japanese.

  The route search server 30A in area A has only map data and network data for route search covering area A, and the second route search server 30B in area B has map data and route search covering area B. Network data only. Accordingly, the first route search server 30A cannot perform a route search with a point in the area B as a departure point or destination, and the second route search server 30B has a route with a point in the area A as a departure point or destination. Search is not possible.

  In the present invention, from the terminal device 20 located in the area A to the first route search server 30A, an area where the departure point S is a point in the area A and the destination G is a point in the area B When there is a route search request that crosses the route, the first route search server 30A and the second route search server 30B cooperate in the following manner to determine the optimum route from the departure point S to the destination G. To the terminal device 20.

  When the user designates the departure point S and the destination G in the terminal device 20 and makes a route search request, the terminal device 20 displays the departure point S, the destination G, and the display unit of the terminal device 20 stored in the terminal device 20. The language information to be displayed is transmitted to the first route search server 30A to make a route search request. Here, it is assumed that the language to be displayed on the display unit of the terminal device 20 is the same first language (English) as the service providing language of the first route search server 30A. When the destination G is outside the area A and is a point in the area B, the first route search server 30A searches for a link of the moving means that connects the area A and the area B, and one or a plurality of candidate contact points P1 to P3 are extracted, and an optimum route (a route that minimizes the total link cost of the route) from the departure point S to each of the candidate contact points P1, P2, and P3 is searched for as candidate routes SP1, SP2, and SP3. Find the total link cost (time required).

  The first route search server 30A provides the location information of the destination G, the location information of the candidate contacts P1 to P3, the required time and language information (English) of the candidate route, and the area B where the destination G is located. It is sent to the second route search server 30B as an area. The second route search server 30B determines the optimum route (total route link) from each candidate contact P1 to P3 to the destination G based on the point information of the candidate contacts P1 to P3 and the point information of the destination G. Search for candidate routes P1G, P2G, and P3G by searching for a route having the lowest cost.

  The second route search server 30B adds the total link cost (required) of the candidate routes SP1, SP2, SP3 searched by the first route search server 30A to the total link cost (required time) of each candidate route P1G, P2G, P3G. Time) is combined (added) at each of the candidate contacts P1 to P3, and the optimum route that minimizes the total link cost (total time required) of the route from the departure point S to the destination G is determined as the recommended route. To do. Hereinafter, for the sake of illustration, a case will be described in which the total link cost (total time required) of the candidate route SP2 and the candidate route P2G combined at the candidate contact point P2 is the minimum.

  The second route search server 30B creates route guidance information in the second language (Japanese) based on the route data of the candidate route P2G in the area B, and a link for the terminal device to access this route guidance information Create information. The created link information is transmitted to the first route search server 30A together with information indicating that the route constituted by the candidate route SP2 and the candidate route P2G is a recommended route.

  When the first route search server 30A receives link information related to the candidate route P2G and information indicating that the candidate route SP2 is a recommended route from the second route search server 30B, the first route search server 30A is based on the route data of the candidate route SP2 in the area A. Create route guidance information. Next, the first route search server 30A transmits the generated route guidance information in the area A and the link information received from the second route search server 30B to the terminal device 20.

  When the terminal device 20 makes a route guidance request to the second route search server 30B based on the link information for accessing the route guidance information in the area B received from the first route search server 30A, the second route search server 30B. Determines whether the language (Japanese) of the route guidance information created based on the candidate route P2G is the first language (English) specified by the language information received from the terminal device 20. When the language of the route guidance information matches the language of the language information of the terminal device 20, the route guidance information is transmitted to the terminal device 20 as it is.

  If the language of the route guidance information is not a language information language, a guidance sentence excluding pre-registered reserved words such as place names, route names, and vehicle names is extracted from the route guidance information created in the second route search server 30B. Then, it is transmitted to the translation server 40, and the language information received from the terminal device 20 is requested to be translated into the language (first language: English). At that time, as a result of removing the reserved words, there is a risk that the context of the text before and after the guide sentence will not be connected and the translation will not be performed properly. You can also ask for translation. Alternatively, information that makes it possible to identify reserved words that are not to be translated may be transmitted to the translation server together.

  The guide sentence translated into the language (first language: English) of the language information received from the terminal device 20 in the translation server 40 is transmitted to the second route search server 30B. The second route search server 30B converts the guide sentence translated into English, which is the first language, into a reserved word by excluding an alternative word, etc., so that the place name remains in Japanese, which is the original second language. In combination with the route name, vehicle name, etc., the translated route guidance information is edited and transmitted to the terminal device 20.

  Further, the second route search server 30B selects candidate contacts PX different from the candidate contacts P1 to P3 extracted by the first route search server 30A based on the point information of the destination G received from the first route search server 30A. When extracted, the point information of the candidate contact point PX is sent to the first route search server 30A, and a request is made to additionally search the optimum candidate route from the departure point S to the candidate contact point PX, and the link cost ( Required time) from the first route search server 30A, and when the recommended route is determined in the first route search server 30A, the new recommended route is added to the other candidate routes to determine the final recommended route. .

  Further, when creating the route guidance information or link information for accessing the route guidance information, the second route search server 30B acquires map data corresponding to the guidance route with reference to the map database 32B. Then, link information for referring to the map data from the terminal device 20 is created. And when the link information of route guidance information is transmitted to the terminal device 20 via the 1st route search server 30A, the link information for referring to this map data is also transmitted. Alternatively, when the translated route guidance information is transmitted to the terminal device 20 in response to the route guidance information acquisition request from the terminal device 20, the link information for referring to the map data is also the terminal device 20 at the same time. You may make it transmit to. In this way, map data can be transmitted only when there is a request from the user, and unnecessary data transmission can be prevented.

  Here, the candidate contact point shown in FIG. 2 is shown as a specific point, but when the area A and the area B are adjacent to each other by land and the moving means is an automobile or a railroad, the area A and the area Candidate contact points connecting B are area boundary points and may be specified as candidate contact point information as indicated by P1 to P3 in FIG. 2, but may not be.

  For example, when the moving means between the areas is a route using an aircraft or a route using a ship, the node on the area A side and the node on the area B side, which are nodes at both ends of the link having the aircraft or ship connecting the areas as the moving means Node becomes a candidate contact. As shown in FIG. 2, when the departure point S is in area A and the destination G is in area B, the candidate contact points sent from the first route search server 30A on the area A side to the second route search server 30B on the area B side The information is an airport or a port that is a destination side node of an aircraft link or a ship link, and the point information of a candidate contact point of the first route search server 30A of the area A is an airport that is a destination side node of an aircraft link or a ship link. It is a port. In this case, of course, the time required for the aircraft link or the ship link is added to the total cost of the recommended route.

  In the first route search server 30A, in order to identify the destination G located within the area B where the second route search server 30B provides the service, the first route search server 30A determines the destination G It is necessary to specify location information. In that case, the first route search server 30A does not need to have map data of the area B, and is configured to obtain the position information by performing a POI search for a city name or a famous facility name within the range of the area B. That's fine. The POI information can be acquired from the POI information distribution server 50 (see FIG. 1) and stored in the POI information database 34A.

  Since the POI information database 34A of the first route search server 30A includes information such as airports and ports that are major facilities as POI information other than area A and outside the country A, the first route search server 30A specifies An airport or a port around the destination G can be extracted as candidate contact points.

Next, a detailed configuration of the route guidance system according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating detailed configurations of the route search server, the translation server, and the terminal device.
The terminal device 20 is a terminal that can receive a navigation service. The terminal device 20 controls and controls the operation of each unit, a communication unit 202, a GPS reception unit 203, a route search request unit 204, and a route data storage unit 205. , Display means 206, operation input means 207, POI search means 208, route guidance request means 209, language information storage means 210, and the like. The operation input means 27 includes a character input key, a selection key, a cursor key for selecting a setting item on the menu screen displayed on the display screen, and the like. In the present embodiment, the language information storage unit 210 stores data indicating “English” which is the first language.

  As described above, the route search servers 30A and 30B are respectively the map databases 32A and 32B that store map data, the route network data 331A and 331B for route search, and the route searches that store the traffic network data 332A and 332B. Network databases 33A and 33B, and POI information databases 34A and 34B for storing POI names and position information. When the route search servers 30A and 30B have a function of searching for a route using walking or public transportation and guiding it to the terminal device 20, the route search servers 30A and 30B include the road network data 331A and 331B and the traffic network data 332A. A route is searched using 332B.

  In this embodiment, since the route search servers 30A and 30B have the same configuration, only the first route search server 30A will be described here, and the description of the second route search server 30B will be omitted. However, in the first and second route search servers 30A and 30B, components having the same name have the same function.

  The first route search server 30A is a control unit 301A, a communication unit 302A, a processing request storage unit 303A, an area determination unit 304A, a server determination unit 305A, a candidate contact extraction unit 306A, a route search, for controlling and controlling the operation of each unit. 307A, guidance information editing means 308A, route search application screen creation means 309A, output language determination means 310, text extraction means 311A, candidate route combination means 312A, recommended route determination means 313A, route storage means 314A, etc. ing.

  The translation server 40 includes a control means 41, a communication means 42, a translation means 43, a language information database 44, and the like for controlling and controlling the operations of the respective units.

  First, the terminal device 20 specifies a route search condition such as a departure point and a destination, and further a moving means, and transmits a route search request to the first route search server 30A. The language information storage unit 210 of the terminal device 20 stores language information of a language to be displayed on the display unit 206. This language information is transmitted to the first route search server 30A as a route search condition when the terminal device 20 makes a route search request. Here, the language information is English which is the same first language as the service providing language of the first route search server 30A.

  When the first route search server 30A receives the route search request from the terminal device 20, the search condition such as the departure point, the destination point information, the moving means, the language information to be displayed on the terminal device 20 and the like included in the route search request. Are temporarily stored in the processing request storage means 303A. Next, the area determination unit 304A determines whether the departure place and the destination included in the route search request condition stored in the processing request storage unit 303A are points within the service providing area of the first route search server 30A. .

  When it is determined that the departure point and the destination are points within the service providing area of the first route search server 30A, the route search unit 307A refers to the route search network database 33A according to the route search condition included in the route search request. A normal route search from the starting point to the destination is performed. The plurality of searched candidate routes are stored in the route storage unit 314A. The recommended route determination unit 313A determines an optimum recommended route from the routes stored in the route storage unit 314A, the guidance information editing unit 308A creates route guidance information related to the recommended route, and the communication unit 302A uses the terminal device. Deliver to 20.

  A route search condition designation screen, a route search request screen, a route guidance request screen, and the like displayed on the terminal device 20 are created by the route search application screen creation means 309 based on an application (navigation application) provided from the route search server 30A. . When receiving the navigation service from the route search server 30A, the terminal device 20 downloads this application from the route search server 30A in advance. Each screen is created with XML data by this application.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a screen created by an application that supports different languages. FIG. 4A shows an initial screen of a route search request created in Japanese and FIG. 4B in Chinese. It is. Each screen displays a selection item for “Route Search” for searching for the optimum route (route) by specifying the departure and destination points, and a selection item for “Map Search” for displaying a map. Can select these selection items and transmit a desired request to the route search server 30A or the route search server 30B.

  In the route search request from the terminal device 20, the departure point is within the service providing area of the first route search server 30A, for example, as the departure point S in FIG. In the case where the terminal device 20 is in the service providing area of the server 30B and the terminal device 20 is in the service providing area of the first route search server 30A, route search and guidance of the optimum recommended route are performed as follows.

  First, the area determination unit 304A of the first route search server 30A determines whether the departure point S and the destination G are within the service providing area of the first route search server 30A. As a result, the departure point S is determined to be within the service providing area of the first route search server 30A. On the other hand, since it is determined that the destination is outside the service providing area, in this case, the server determination unit 305A specifies a route search server that uses the area including the destination G as the service providing area. Here, it is determined that the route search server whose service providing area is the area including the destination G is the second route search server 30B.

  Next, the candidate contact extraction means 306A of the first route search server 30A selects one or more candidate contacts (for example, P1 to P3 in FIG. 2) that connect the area where the destination S is located to the area where the destination G is located. Extract. When the candidate contact point is extracted, the route search means 307A searches for the optimum route connecting the departure point S and each candidate contact point (P1 to P3) to be a candidate route (SP1 to SP3 in FIG. 2), Each candidate route data and link cost (required time) are stored in the route storage means 314A.

  Next, the point information (position information) of the candidate contact points (P1 to P3) and the total link cost (required time) of each candidate route are sent to the second route search server 30B whose service providing area is the area where the destination G is located. The destination point information and the language information received from the terminal device 20 (here, data indicating “English” as the first language) are transmitted, and a search for a candidate route from the candidate contact point to the destination G is requested. To do.

  The second route search server 30B, which uses the area where the destination G is located as the service providing area, receives the point information of the candidate contact points (P1 to P3) received from the first route search server 30A, the total link cost of each candidate route ( Time required) and language information (data indicating “English” as the first language) are stored in the processing request storage unit 303B. Next, the route search unit 307B of the second route search server 30B refers to the candidate contact points (P1 to P3) and the point information of the destination G stored in the processing request storage unit 303B, and uses the route search network database 33B. The route search from each candidate contact (P1 to P3) to the destination G is performed with reference to the information on the searched candidate route and the link cost in the route storage means 314B.

  Next, the candidate route combining unit 312B of the second route search server 30B combines the candidate routes searched for in the first and second route search servers 30A and 30B or their link costs, and the recommended route determining unit 313B An optimum route is determined as a recommended route from the combined candidate routes, and information on other candidate routes is deleted. For example, the recommended route has the shortest total link cost (required time) of the route.

  When the recommended route is determined, the guidance information editing unit 308B of the second route search server 30B creates route guidance information based on the determined recommended route data and stores it in the route storage unit 314B. In addition, the guide information editing unit 308B creates link information for accessing the route guide information, and the first route together with information on the candidate route selected as the recommended route in the service providing area of the second route search server 30B. It is transmitted to the search server 30A.

  When the first route search server 30A receives link information related to the candidate route P2G and information indicating that the candidate route SP2 is a recommended route from the second route search server 30B, the first route search server 30A is based on the route data of the candidate route SP2 in the area A. Create route guidance information. Next, the first route search server 30A transmits the generated route guidance information in the area A and the link information received from the second route search server 30B to the terminal device 20. Based on the route guidance information received from the first route search server 30A, the terminal device 20 requests route guidance from the first route search server 30A while moving in the area B while it is located in the area A. Can request route guidance from the second route search server 30B and receive route guidance in each area.

  When the terminal device 20 makes a route guidance request to the second route search server 30B based on the link information for accessing the route guidance information in the area B received from the first route search server 30A, the second route search server 30B. The output language determination unit 310B determines whether or not the created route guidance information is a language specified by the language information received from the terminal device 20. When the language of the route guidance information matches the language of the language information received from the terminal device 20, the created route guidance information and link information for accessing the map data related to the route guidance information are created, and the communication means 302B Is transmitted to the terminal device 20 of the route guidance request source.

  When the language of the created route guidance information is different from the language specified by the language information received from the terminal device 20, the text extraction unit 311B uses the screen data included in the XML and the route guidance information to identify the place name and route name. A guide sentence excluding the reserved word that is the name is extracted and transmitted to the translation server 40 together with the language information received from the terminal device 20, and the translation of the language information into the language is requested. In the present embodiment, the created route guidance information is the second language that is the service providing language of the second route search server 30B, and the language of the language information is the first language, so the text extraction means 311B. Extracts the guidance text from the screen data and the route guidance information included in the XML, and requests the translation server 40 to translate into the second language.

  When the translation server 40 receives the guidance sentence to be translated and the language information to be displayed on the terminal device 20 from the second route search server 30B, the translation unit 43 refers to the language information database 44 and converts the guidance sentence into the language described above. Translate to the language of information (first language). The translated guidance text is transmitted to the second route search server 30B via the communication means 42.

  When the second route search server 30B receives the guidance sentence translated from the translation server 40, the guidance information editing unit 308B and the guidance sentence translated into the language of the language information (first language) are not translated. The translated route guidance information is edited by combining reserved words that are unique names such as place names and route names in the original language (second language). The created route guidance information is transmitted to the terminal device 20 that is the route guidance request source by the communication unit 302B together with the recommended route information and the link information created for accessing the map data related to the route guidance information.

  Therefore, while the terminal device 20 is located in the area A, the terminal device 20 can request route guidance from the first route search server 30A and receive route guidance in the first language (English). When the terminal device 20 moves into the area B, the second route search server 30B is requested to provide route guidance, and the first language other than reserved words such as proper nouns (Japanese which is the second language) is the first language. Guidance can be received using the route guidance information translated into (English).

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a route guidance screen, FIG. 5A shows a route guidance screen in a second language (Japanese) created in the second route search server, and FIG. It is a figure which shows the route guidance screen in which the other text information except the reserved word was translated from the 2nd language (Japanese) into the 1st language (English) in the corresponding route guidance information. In FIG. 5A, all text information including proper nouns such as AA airport, BB station, and CC station is displayed in Japanese. In FIG. 5B, reserved words in FIG. 5A (AA airport, BB station, CC station) Is not translated, and other text information is translated into English and displayed. FIG. 5C is a diagram illustrating a case where all the guidance information in FIG. 5A is translated into the first language (English).

  If such display is performed, when the terminal device 20 that uses the first language (English) as the working language moves to the area B (the area that uses the second language (Japanese)), Route guidance information can be displayed in English, and reserved words such as proper nouns are not translated into English but remain in Japanese, so it is possible to respond to guide maps (in Japanese) and signs posted locally Can be easily understood. When everything is translated into English as shown in FIG. 5C, in the second language area, use the Japanese notation displayed on the signs of stations, buildings, roads, etc. and the English notation of guidance information It is inconvenient because the person must respond and identify.

  Here, a general search method for a route including a travel route by transportation will be described. In the route search network databases 33A and 33B of the route search servers 30A and 30B, in order to search the road network data 331A and 331B for searching for a travel route by foot or by car and a travel route using public transportation. Traffic network data 332A and 332B are stored. Each route search means 307A, 307B refers to this route search network database 33A, 33B and searches for a route by walking or a car or a route using both walking and transportation.

  Each road network data 331A, 331B is configured as follows. For example, when the road is composed of roads A, B, and C as shown in FIG. 6, the end points, intersections, and inflection points of the roads A, B, and C are used as nodes, and the roads connecting the nodes are directed links Link cost data with node data (node latitude / longitude), link data (link number) and link cost of each link (link distance or time required to travel the link) as data Composed.

  That is, in FIG. 6, Nn (◯ mark) and Nm (◎ mark) indicate nodes, and Nm (◎ mark) indicates a road intersection. Directional links connecting the nodes are indicated by arrow lines (solid line, dotted line, two-dot chain line). As for the links, there are links facing in the upward and downward directions of the road, but in FIG. 6, only the links in the direction of the arrows are shown for the sake of simplicity.

  When route search is performed using such road network data as a route search database, links linked from the starting node to the destination node are traced to accumulate the link cost, thereby minimizing the accumulated link cost. Search and guide the route. That is, in FIG. 6, when a route search is performed with the departure point as the node AX and the destination as the node CY, the road travels from the node AX to the road A, turns right at the second intersection, enters the road C, and reaches the node CY. The link cost is accumulated sequentially, and a route that minimizes the accumulated link cost is searched for and guided.

  Although other routes from the node AX to the node CY are not shown in FIG. 6, there are actually other such routes, so that a plurality of routes that can be reached from the node AX to the node CY are displayed. A search is performed in the same manner, and a route with the lowest link cost is determined as the optimum route. This is performed, for example, by a well-known method called the Dijkstra method.

  On the other hand, the traffic network data 332A and 332B for route search of transportation facilities are configured as follows. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, in the case of traffic routes A, B, and C, each station (each airport on an aircraft route) provided on each traffic route A, B, and C is used as a node, and the nodes are connected. A section is represented by a directional link, and node data (latitude / longitude) and link data (link number) are network data. In FIG. 7, Nn (◯ mark) and Nm (◎ mark) indicate nodes, Nm (◎ mark) indicates a transit point (such as a transfer station) on a traffic route, and a directional link connecting each node. It is indicated by an arrow line (solid line, dotted line, two-dot chain line). As links, there are links facing in the upward and downward directions of the traffic route. In FIG. 7, only the links in the direction of the arrows are shown for the sake of simplicity.

  However, the traffic network basically has a different link cost compared to the road network. In other words, in the road network, the link cost is fixed and static, but in the traffic network, as shown in FIG. 7, trains and airplanes (hereinafter referred to as individual trains and airplanes) that operate the traffic routes. A plurality of means of transportation). When the time to depart from one node and the time to arrive at the next node are determined for each means of transportation (specified by timetable data and operation data), and each route does not necessarily link to an adjacent node There is. This is the case, for example, with express trains and trains that stop at each station. In such a case, a plurality of different links exist on the same traffic route, and the required time between nodes may differ depending on the transportation means.

  In the transportation network illustrated in FIG. 7, a plurality of transportation means (routes) Aa to Ac... Exist on the same link of the transportation route A, and a plurality of transportation means (routes) Ca to Cc. Will do. Therefore, unlike a simple road network, the transportation network of a transportation facility has a data amount proportional to the total number of transportation means (routes of individual aircraft, trains, etc.).

  In order to search for a route from a certain departure point to a certain destination using such traffic network data, all the means of transportation that can be used (ride) when arriving from the departure point to the destination are searched. It is necessary to specify the means of transportation that matches the search conditions.

  For example, in FIG. 7, when performing a route search with the departure point as a node AX of the traffic route A and specifying a certain departure time and using the node CY of the traffic route C as the destination, the route operates on the traffic route A. Of the transportation means Aa to Ac..., All transportation means after the departure time are sequentially selected as the departure route. Based on the arrival time at the transit node on the transit route C, among all the transit means Ca to Cc... Operating on the transit route C, all combinations of transit means after the time that can be boarded at the transit node. And the required time of each route, the number of transfers, etc. are accumulated and guided.

  The route search servers 30A and 30B use such network data to search for a plurality of candidate routes from the departure point to the destination according to route search conditions, and use the results as candidate routes. If the departure time of the departure place is specified in the route search conditions, the arrival time at the destination is reached. If the arrival time at the destination is specified, the arrival time is reached at the specified time. The departure time for the departure place is included in the guide route data.

  Next, the operation procedure of the route guidance system according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. In addition, FIG. 8 is a flowchart which shows operation | movement in the 1st route search server of the route guidance system concerning the Example of this invention. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the second route search server of the route guidance system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  In step S <b> 101, the first route search server 30 </ b> A receives a route search request including a route search condition such as a departure point, a destination, and language information to be displayed on the display unit 206 of the terminal device 20 from the terminal device 20. The first route search server 30A temporarily stores the received route search condition in the processing request storage unit 303A. Next, in step S102, the area determination unit 304A determines whether or not the destination is within the service providing area (in its own area) of the first route search server 30A. If it is determined in step S103 that the destination is not within the service provision area of the first route search server 30A, the process proceeds to step S104, and the server determination unit 305A sets the area including the destination as the service provision area. Specify the route search server.

  If it is determined in step S105 that there is a route search server having the destination as the service providing area, the process proceeds to subsequent step S106. Here, the area including the destination is assumed to be a server corresponding to the service providing area of the second route search server, and the following description will be given.

  In step S106, the candidate contact extraction unit 306A of the first route search server 30A extracts one or more candidate contacts that connect the area where the destination is located with the area where the departure place is located. Next, in step S107, the route search unit 307A of the first route search server 30A searches for the optimum route connecting the departure point and each candidate contact point to be a candidate route, and each candidate is stored in the route storage unit 314A. The route data and link cost (required time) are stored.

  Next, in step S108, the second route search server 30B having the area where the destination is located as the service providing area, the candidate contact point information, the total link cost (required time) of each candidate route, and the destination point. The information and the language information received from the terminal device 20 are transmitted, and a search for a candidate route from the candidate contact point to the destination is requested.

  The second route search server 30B searches for candidate routes from each candidate contact point to the destination, combines the searched candidate routes, and determines the optimum route from the combined candidate routes as a recommended route. Next, as will be described in detail later, the second route search server 30B creates route guidance information from the recommended route data and transmits it to the first route search server 30A.

  In step S109, the first route search server 30A receives the route guidance information from the second route search server 30B and stores it in the route storage unit 314A. In step S110, a recommended route is determined from each candidate route in the service providing area of the first route search server 30A. In step S111, the guide information editing unit 308A provides a route in the service providing area of the first route search server 30A. Guide information is created and stored in the route storage means 314A. Next, the distribution data editing means 315A edits the created route guidance information into a format that can be distributed to the terminal device 20, and transmits it to the terminal device 20 via the communication means 302A in step S112, and ends the processing.

  When the destination point information included in the route search condition is a point in the service providing area of the first route search server 30A in the above step S103, or in step S105, the area to which the destination belongs is set as the service providing area. If there is no route search server, the process proceeds to step S113, where the route search means 307A of the first route search server 30A goes from the departure place to the destination located in the service providing area of the first route search server 30A. Route search or candidate contact extraction means 306A extracts candidate contacts that reach outside the service providing area of the first route search server 30A, and route search means 307A routes candidate routes from the departure point to those candidate contacts. Search and store in the route storage means 314A.

  Next, in step S110, the recommended route determination unit 313A determines an optimum route from the candidate routes as a recommended route. Next, in step S111, route guidance information related to the recommended route is created by the guidance information editing unit 308A and converted into a data format that can be distributed to the terminal device 20 by the distribution data editing unit 315A. Route guidance data is transmitted to the terminal device 20.

  In the above description, the case where the departure point included in the route search condition is located in the service provision area of the first route search server 30A and the destination is located in the service provision area of the second route search server 30B will be described. However, the present invention is not limited to the above example. For example, the terminal device 20 is in the service providing area of the first route search server 30A, and provides the service of the second route search server 30B as the departure point and the destination. A point in the area may be specified and a route search request may be made to the first route search server 30A.

  In that case, after determining the route search server that uses the area to which the departure point and the destination belong as the service providing area, the route search condition including the departure point, the destination, and the language information is used as a route with the area as the service providing area What is necessary is just to request a route search by transmitting to the search server.

  Next, a processing procedure of the second route search server 30B with respect to the processing of the first route search server 30A described in the flowchart of FIG. 8 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In step S201, the first route search server 30A transmits route search information (request) including destination point information, candidate contact information, and information on candidate routes in the area A to the second route search server 30B. Next, in step S202, the first route search server 30A transmits the language information of the terminal device to the second route search server 30B.

  In the process of step S203, the second route search server 30B searches for candidate routes from each candidate contact point to the destination, combines the searched candidate routes, and selects an optimum route from the combined candidate routes. The route is determined as a recommended route and route guidance information is created. The language of the route guidance information created at this time is the language of the second route search server 30B (second language: Japanese). Next, in step S204, the route information and the route information and the link information for requesting the route guidance to the second route search server 30B, that is, the link information for the terminal device 20 to access the route guidance information are the first. It transmits to 1 route search server 30A.

  In step S205, the second route search server 30B determines whether there is a route guidance request from the terminal device 20. If there is no route guidance request from the terminal device 20, the process of step S205 is repeated. If there is a route guidance request from the terminal device 20, it is determined in step S206 whether or not the language of the second route search server 30B itself and the language to be displayed on the terminal device 20 match based on the language information of the terminal device 20. Determine. If the languages are different (do not match), in step S207, a guidance sentence (text) excluding reserved words that are unique names such as place names and route names is extracted from the route guidance information provided to the terminal device 20, and step S208. , The translation server 40 is requested to translate into the language to be displayed on the terminal device 20.

  When the translation result is received from the translation server 40 in step S209, the second route search server 30 edits the translated route guidance information that combines the translated guidance text and the untranslated reserved word in step S210. In S211, route information, link information for requesting route guidance to the second route search server 30B, that is, link information for the terminal device 20 to access the route guidance information is transmitted to the terminal device 20, and in step S212. The route guidance is performed, and when the route guidance is finished, the processing is finished.

  By performing such processing, when the terminal device 20 that uses the first language (English) as the working language moves to area B (area that uses the second language (Japanese)), The route guidance information can be displayed in English, and reserved words such as proper nouns are not translated into English but remain in Japanese (see FIG. 5B). ) And signs and signs can be easily understood.

  8 and 9, the second route search server 30B transmits the route guidance information to the terminal device 20 via the first route search server 30A without translating the route information, and the terminal device 20 moves to the area B. When moving and requesting route guidance based on the route guidance information to the second route search server 30B, the route guidance information in the area B is translated and transmitted to the terminal device 20 to execute route guidance. there were.

  However, in this procedure, roaming is possible even if the terminal device 20 moves to the area B, that is, the terminal device 20 accesses the second route search server 30B in the area B and obtains position information from the second route search server 30B. Or the necessary information can be downloaded from the second route search server 30B. Therefore, when the language of the second route search server 30B itself and the language to be displayed on the terminal device 20 do not match, the route guidance information created in advance by the second route search server 30B is translated into the first route search. The procedure is to transmit to the server 30A. According to such a procedure, the terminal device 20 can acquire translated route guidance information in advance regardless of whether roaming is possible in the area B.

  FIG. 10 shows that when the language of the second route search server 30B itself and the language to be displayed on the terminal device 20 do not match, the second route search server 30B translates the route guidance information in advance. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the 2nd route search server 30B in the case of taking the procedure transmitted to 30A. In step S301, the first route search server 30A transmits route search information (request) including destination point information, candidate contact information, and information on candidate routes in the area A to the second route search server 30B. Next, in step S302, the first route search server 30A transmits the language information of the terminal device to the second route search server 30B (see FIG. 8, step S108).

  In the process of step S303, the second route search server 30B searches for candidate routes from each candidate contact point to the destination, combines the searched candidate routes, and selects the optimum route from the combined candidate routes. The route is determined as a recommended route and route guidance information is created. The language of the route guidance information created at this time is the language of the second route search server 30B (second language: Japanese). Next, based on the received language information of the terminal device, the second route search server 30B determines whether or not the language of the second route search server 30B itself and the language to be displayed on the terminal device 20 match in step S304. Determine. If the languages are different (do not match), in step S305, a guide sentence (text) excluding reserved words that are unique names such as place names and route names is extracted from the route guidance information created from the recommended route data. In S306, the translation server 40 is requested to translate into the language to be displayed on the terminal device 20.

  When the translation result is received from the translation server 40 in step S307, the second route search server 30 edits the translated route guidance information that combines the translated guidance text and the untranslated reserved word in step S308. In the process of S309, route information, link information for requesting route guidance to the second route search server 30B, that is, link information for the terminal device 20 to access the route guidance information, together with the edited route guidance information. It transmits to the 1st route search server 30A, and a process is complete | finished.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in the language determination process in step S304 that the language of the second route search server 30B itself and the language to be displayed on the terminal device 20 match, the second route search server 30B determines in step S309 that The route guidance information created from the recommended route data is transmitted to the first route search server 30A together with the route information and the link information without being translated, and the process is terminated. The route guidance information received by the first route search server 30A from the second route search server 30B by the above processing is combined with the route guidance information in the area A searched by the first route search server 30A to the terminal device 20. It is transmitted (see FIG. 8, step S112).

  Therefore, while the terminal device 20 is located in the area A, the terminal device 20 can request route guidance from the first route search server 30A and receive route guidance in the first language (English). When the terminal device 20 moves into the area B, the second route search server 30B is requested to provide route guidance, and the first language other than reserved words such as proper nouns (Japanese which is the second language) is the first language. Guidance can be received using the route guidance information translated into (English). According to the procedure of the second embodiment, since the terminal device 20 can acquire the route guidance information translated in the area B in advance, the terminal device 20 is a terminal device such as a mobile phone, and the terminal in the service target area B Even when the device cannot roam, route guidance can be received.

  The procedure of the second embodiment can be used in combination with the procedure of the first embodiment, and when the terminal device 20 moves to the area where the destination is located, it is determined whether or not roaming is possible. It can also be configured to run only when possible. In the latter case, the first route search server 30A that uses the area A as the service providing area determines whether the terminal device 20 can roam in the area B, and requests the second route search server 30B to perform a route search. At this time, it may be configured to transmit roaming availability information. The second route search server 30B may determine which of the procedure of the first embodiment and the procedure of the second embodiment is executed based on this information.

  In the first and second embodiments described above, the route search servers 30A, 30B, etc. in each area determine the service providing area from the starting point and destination of the route search condition, and the route search server in that area. Although the example which discriminate | determines is demonstrated, it can also be set as the structure which performs the process of this invention via a route search mediation server. FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the route search mediation server 60 used in the route guidance system of the present invention.

  A route search mediation server 60 shown in FIG. 11 is connected to the route guidance system 10 shown in FIG. 3 via a network, receives route search mediation requests from the route search servers 30A, 30B, etc., and is necessary for route search and route guidance. A route search server is identified, a route search request is mediated, and a route search result is provided to the route search mediation request source. Here, a case where the process between the first route search server 30A and the second route search server 30B described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 is executed via the route search mediation server 60 is taken as an example. The operation of the search mediation server 60 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the route search mediation server 60 includes a control unit 61, a communication unit 62, a processing request storage unit 63, a server determination unit 64, a candidate contact extraction unit 65, an area determination unit 66, a user information storage unit 67, A path storage means 68 is provided. The control unit 61 includes a microprocessor, a ROM, and a RAM (not shown) and controls the operation of each unit. The communication means 62 is an interface for transmitting / receiving information to / from the first route search server 30A, the second route search server 30B, etc. via the network.

  In the following description, it is assumed that the terminal device 20 sets a route search condition in which a point in the area A is a departure point S and a point in the area B is a destination G and makes a route search mediation request. The language to be displayed on the display means 20 is the same first language (English) as the service providing language of the first route search server 30A having the area A as the service providing area, and the destination G is defined as the service providing area. An example will be described in which the service providing language of the second route search server 30B is the second language (Japanese).

  When the user designates the departure point S and the destination G in the terminal device 20 and makes a route search request, the terminal device 20 displays information on the departure point S and the destination G together with language information indicating the language to be displayed on the display means. The route search mediation request including this is transmitted to the first route search server 30A. When the route search server 30A receives the route search condition including the departure point S and the destination G from the terminal device 20, the route search server 30A determines whether or not the destination G included in the route search condition exists in the area A within its own area. Determine whether.

  If it is determined that the destination G is point information in the area, the first route search server 30A performs a normal route search, determines a recommended route (optimum route) for the obtained candidate route, Based on this, route guidance data is edited, and route information and route guidance information are transmitted to the terminal device 20. The terminal device 20 displays the route information and route guidance information received from the first route search server 30A on the display means.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the destination is not point information in the own area, the candidate contact extraction unit 306A extracts all candidate contacts in the own area, and the route search unit 307A extracts the candidate contacts based on the extracted candidate contacts. The route search from the departure point S to each candidate contact is performed. Candidate route information including a predetermined number of candidate routes obtained by route search and required time for the candidate route, destination G information (position information of destination G), candidate contact information, language information of terminal device 20 A route search mediation request is transmitted to the route search mediation server 60 via the communication means 302A.

  The route search mediation server 60 stores the route search mediation request (processing request) received from the first route search server 30A in the processing request storage means 63, and also stores the ID, language information, etc. of the terminal device 20 as user information storage means. 67. The area determination unit 66 determines which service provision area the destination G belongs to based on the destination G included in the processing request. In this case, the area determination unit 66 determines that the destination G is in the area B. Candidate contact extraction means 66 includes a contact information database, and connects area A and area B based on the area to which destination G belongs as determined by area determination means 66 and the area of first route search server 30A. Candidate contact points (FIG. 2, P1 to P3) to be extracted are extracted.

  Subsequently, the server determination unit 64 determines that the server providing the service for the area B is the second route search server 30B. When the second route search server 30B is specified, the route search mediation server 60 sends the route information on the area A side to each candidate contact point extracted (the first route search server 30A searches for the second route search server 30B). Information on the optimum route from the departure point S to each corresponding candidate contact in area A), the point information of the destination G, and the language information of the terminal device 20 are transmitted to the second route search server 30B.

  In the second route search server 30B, based on the received candidate route information and the point information of the destination G1, the route search means 307B starts from each candidate contact point (FIG. 2, P1 to P3) included in the candidate route information. The optimum route to the destination G1 is searched for as a candidate route. Based on each candidate route obtained as a result of the route search and the candidate route information received from the route search mediation server 60 (required time of the candidate route from the departure point S to the candidate contacts P1 to P3), the recommended route determining means 313B determines a recommended route (optimum route) that minimizes the total required time.

  The second route search server 30B creates route guidance information in the second language (Japanese) based on the route data of the candidate route P2G in the area B, and the terminal device 20 accesses the route guidance information. Create link information. The created link information is transmitted to the route search mediation server 60 together with information indicating that the route constituted by the candidate route SP2 and the candidate route P2G is a recommended route, and the route search mediation server 60 transmits this information to the request source. The first route search server 30 transmits the information to the terminal device 20.

  In this way, the terminal device 20 receives the recommended route information from the first route search server 30A, the route guidance information in the area A, the link information for linking to the route guidance information, the route guidance information in the area B, and the When the link information for linking to the route guidance information is received, the terminal device 20 accesses the route guidance information in each area based on the link information, and the first route search server 30A and the second route search server 30B. Request route guidance.

  In the route guidance in the area A, the language of the first route search server 30A and the terminal device 20 is the first language (English), so the terminal device 20 receives the route guidance by displaying the route guidance information in English as it is. be able to. On the other hand, in the area B, the language of the second route search server 30B is the second language (Japanese), and the language of the terminal device 20 is the first language (English). When there is a route guidance request in the route search server 30B, the second route search server 30B translates route guidance information and transmits it to the terminal device 20.

  That is, when the terminal device 20 makes a route guidance request to the second route search server 30B based on the link information for accessing the route guidance information in the area B received from the first route search server 30A, the second route search is performed. In the server 30B, the output language determination unit 310A determines whether or not the created route guidance information is a language specified by the language information received from the terminal device 20. When the language of the route guidance information matches the language of the language information received from the terminal device 20, the created route guidance information and link information for accessing the map data related to the route guidance information are created, and the communication means 302B Is transmitted to the terminal device 20 of the route guidance request source.

  When the language of the created route guidance information is different from the language specified by the language information received from the terminal device 20, the text extraction unit 311B excludes reserved words that are unique names such as place names and route names from the route guidance information. A guide sentence is extracted and transmitted to the translation server 40 together with the language information received from the terminal device 20, and the language information is requested to be translated into a language. In the present embodiment, the created route guidance information is the second language that is the service providing language of the second route search server 30B, and the language of the language information is the first language, so the text extraction means 311B. Extracts a guidance sentence from the route guidance information and requests the translation server 40 to translate it into the second language.

  When the translation server 40 receives the guidance sentence to be translated and the language information to be displayed on the terminal device 20 from the second route search server 30B, the translation unit 43 refers to the language information database 44 and converts the guidance sentence into the language described above. Translate to the language of information (first language). The translated guidance text is transmitted to the second route search server 30B via the communication means 42.

  When the second route search server 30B receives the guidance sentence translated from the translation server 40, the guidance information editing unit 308B and the guidance sentence translated into the language of the language information (first language) are not translated. The translated route guidance information is edited by combining reserved words that are unique names such as place names and route names in the original language (second language). The created route guidance information is transmitted to the terminal device 20 that is the route guidance request source by the communication unit 302B together with the recommended route information and the link information created for accessing the map data related to the route guidance information.

  Therefore, while the terminal device 20 is located in the area A, the terminal device 20 can request route guidance from the first route search server 30A and receive route guidance in the first language (English). When the terminal device 20 moves into the area B, the second route search server 30B is requested to provide route guidance, and the first language other than reserved words such as proper nouns (Japanese which is the second language) is the first language. Guidance can be received using the route guidance information translated into (English).

  Note that the procedure for translating route guidance information in the second route search server 30B (area B) described above is similar to the procedure described in the first embodiment, in that route guidance is sent from the terminal device 20 to the second route search server 30B. When there is a request, if the languages of the second route search server 30B and the terminal device 20 do not match, the route guidance information is translated and transmitted to the terminal device 20. The procedure described in the second embodiment, That is, when the second route search server 30B creates route guidance information in the route area B, link information for translating the route guidance information in advance and linking to the route guidance information is created, and the route search mediating server 60 It can also be configured to transmit to.

  As described above in detail, according to the route guidance system according to the present invention, when the language used in the terminal device 20 and the language used by the route search server for service provision do not match, a unique place name, route name, etc. By translating the guidance sentence excluding the reserved word that is the name into the language used by the terminal device 20, and providing the route guidance information combined with the reserved word in the language used by the route search server to the terminal device 20, The terminal device 20 can receive route guidance in the language used by the terminal device, while the reserved words such as proper nouns remain as they are, and display route guidance information and proper nouns of local maps and guide maps. It becomes possible to easily contrast the display of.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Route guidance system 20 Terminal device 30A, 30B Route search server 32 Map database 33 Route search network database 34 POI information database 40 Translation server 41 Control means 42 Communication means 43 Translation means 44 Language information database 301 Control means 302 Communication means 303 Processing Request storage means 304 Area determination means 305 Server determination means 306 Candidate contact extraction means 307 Route search means 308 Guide information editing means 309 Route search application screen creation means 310 Output language determination means 311 Text extraction means 312 Candidate route combination means 313 Recommended route determination Means 314 Path storage means

Claims (27)

A route configured by connecting a first route search server having a first area as a service providing area, a second route search server having a second area as a service providing area, and a terminal device and a translation server via a network. A guidance system,
The first route search server includes server determination means for determining a route search server that uses an area including a point indicated by point information as a route search condition received from the terminal device as a service providing area,
The second route search server includes route search means for searching for an optimum route that satisfies the route search condition, and guide information editing means for creating route guide information based on data of the optimum route searched by the route search means. Output language determination means for determining whether or not the route guidance information is a language to be output to the terminal device, and text extraction means for extracting a guide sentence excluding reserved words from the route guidance information,
The terminal device stores language information to be displayed,
When the terminal device transmits the point information and the language information as route search conditions to the first route search server to make a route search request, the server determination unit of the first route search server may When the area including the point to be shown is the second area, it is determined that the route search server having the area as a service providing area is the second route search server, and the first route search server Sending the point information and the language information to the second route search server to request a route search;
The second route search server searches for an optimum route that satisfies the route search condition by the route search means, and the guidance information editing means creates route guidance information based on the searched optimum route data, Send to the first route search server together with the data of the optimum route;
The first route search server transmits information on the optimum route received from the second route search server and route guidance information to the terminal device,
In the second route search server, the output language determination means determines whether or not the language of the route guidance information is a language specified by the language information. If the language is not the language information, the text extraction means Extracts a guide sentence excluding reserved words from the route guidance information and requests translation to the translation server, and the translation server translates the guide sentence into the language of the language information and transmits it to the second route search server. Then, the guidance information editing means of the second route search server creates translated route guidance information combining the translated guidance sentence and the reserved word, and converts the translated route guidance information into the first route information. A route guidance system which transmits to a route search server or the terminal device.   When there is a request for route guidance based on the route guidance information transmitted to the terminal device, the second route search server determines the language of the route guidance information based on the language information. If the language information is not the language of the language information, the text extraction unit extracts a guidance sentence excluding reserved words from the route guidance information and requests the translation server to translate, and the translation server Translates the guidance sentence into the language of the language information and transmits it to the second route search server, and the guide information editing means of the second route search server includes the translated guide sentence, the reserved word, The route guidance system according to claim 1, wherein translated route guidance information is combined to send the translated route guidance information to the terminal device.   The second route search server searches for an optimum route that satisfies the route search condition by the route search means, and the guidance information editing means creates route guidance information based on the searched optimum route data, and outputs it The language determining means determines whether or not the language of the route guidance information is a language specified by the language information. If the language is not the language of the language information, the text extracting means selects a reserved word from the route guidance information. A guide sentence to be excluded is extracted and a translation request is made to the translation server. The translation server translates the guide sentence into the language of the language information and transmits it to the second route search server. The guidance information editing means creates translated route guidance information combining the translated guidance text and the reserved word, and sends the translated route guidance information to the first route search server. Route guidance system according to claim 1, characterized in that the signal.   The route search condition includes a departure place in the first area, and the first route search server includes route search means and point information of at least one candidate contact that can reach the second area from the first area. Candidate contact extracting means for extracting the optimal route received from the second route search server by searching for an optimal route from the starting point to the candidate contact. The route guidance system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the route information is transmitted together with route information to the terminal device.   The route guidance information includes the reserved word and the guide sentence, the reserved word is a unique name including a place name and a route name, and the guide sentence is a sentence that guides a route. The route guidance system according to item 1.   The second route search server includes route search application screen creation means for creating and creating each screen for displaying information including the route guidance information on the terminal device in XML, and the text extraction means includes XML The screen data included in the route guidance information and the text excluding reserved words are extracted, the translation server is requested to translate, and the guidance information editing means combines the translated text and reserved words to translate screen data. The route guidance system according to claim 1, wherein the route guidance system is created. A route configured by connecting a first route search server having a first area as a service providing area, a second route search server having a second area as a service providing area, and a terminal device and a translation server via a network. A route search server constituting the first route search server in the guidance system,
Comprising server determination means for determining a route search server having an area including a point indicated by point information as a route search condition received from the terminal device as a service providing area;
When a route search request including point information as route search conditions and language information to be displayed on the terminal device is received from the terminal device, an area including the point indicated by the point information by the server determination unit is the second area. If there is, the route search server having the area as a service providing area is determined to be the second route search server, and the point information and the language information as the route search condition are transmitted to the second route search server. When requesting route search and receiving translated route guidance information that is created in the second route search server and translated only by the translation server except for reserved words, the translated route guidance information is sent to the terminal device. The route search server characterized by transmitting to. A route configured by connecting a first route search server having a first area as a service providing area, a second route search server having a second area as a service providing area, and a terminal device and a translation server via a network. A route search server constituting the second route search server in the guidance system,
Route search means for searching for an optimum route satisfying a route search condition from the terminal device, guidance information editing means for creating route guidance information based on data of the optimum route searched by the route search means, and the route Output language determination means for determining whether or not the guidance information is a language to be output to the terminal device; and text extraction means for extracting a guidance sentence excluding reserved words from the route guidance information,
The second route search server searches for an optimum route that satisfies the route search condition by the route search means, and the guidance information editing means creates route guidance information based on the searched optimum route data, Send to the first route search server together with the data of the optimum route;
In the second route search server, the output language determination means determines whether or not the language of the route guidance information is a language specified by the language information. If the language is not the language information, the text extraction means Extracts a guide sentence excluding reserved words from the route guidance information and requests translation to the translation server, and the translation server translates the guide sentence into the language of the language information and transmits it to the second route search server. Then, the guidance information editing means of the second route search server creates translated route guidance information combining the translated guidance sentence and the reserved word, and converts the translated route guidance information into the first route information. A route search server that transmits to a route search server or the terminal device.   The route search condition includes a departure place in the first area, and the first route search server includes route search means and point information of at least one candidate contact that can reach the second area from the first area. Candidate contact extracting means for extracting the optimal route received from the second route search server by searching for an optimal route from the starting point to the candidate contact. The route search server according to claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the route search server transmits the information together with route information to the terminal device. A route that constitutes one of the plurality of route search servers in a route guidance system configured by connecting a plurality of route search servers each having a different area as a service providing area, a terminal device, and a translation server via a network A search server,
A server determination unit that determines a route search server that uses an area including a point indicated by point information as a route search condition received from the terminal device as a service providing area; and a route search that searches for an optimal route that satisfies the route search condition Means, guide information editing means for creating route guidance information based on the data of the optimum route searched by the route search means, and output for determining whether or not the route guidance information is a language to be output to the terminal device Language determination means, and text extraction means for extracting a guidance sentence excluding reserved words from the route guidance information,
When receiving a route search request including the point information as the route search condition and the language information to be displayed on the terminal device from the terminal device, the server determination unit services the point indicated by the point information as the route search condition. The route search server that determines the route search server to be provided, sends the point information and the language information as the route search conditions to the determined route search server, requests the route search, and requests the route search If the route guidance information is received from the terminal device, the route guidance information is transmitted to the terminal device,
When a route search request including point information and language information as route search conditions is received from another route search server, the route search means searches for an optimum route that satisfies the route search conditions, and the guide information editing means Create route guidance information based on the searched optimum route data and send it to the other route search server together with the optimum route data,
The output language determination means determines whether or not the language of the route guidance information is a language specified by the language information. If the language is not the language information, the text extraction means reserves from the route guidance information. When a guide sentence excluding a word is extracted and a translation request is made to the translation server, and the guide sentence translated into the language of the language information is received from the translation server, the guide information editing means reads the translated guide sentence A route search server that generates translated route guidance information combining the reserved word and the reserved word and provides it to another route search server or the terminal device that has received a route search request.   The route search condition includes a departure place in an area, the route search server includes route search means, candidate contact extraction means for extracting point information of at least one candidate contact that can reach another area from the area, The route search means of the route search server searches for an optimum route from the departure point to the candidate contact point, and transmits the optimum route information received from the other route search server to the terminal device. The route search server according to claim 10, wherein:   The route guidance information includes the reserved word and the guide sentence, the reserved word is a unique name including a place name and a route name, and the guide sentence is a sentence that guides a route. The route search server according to any one of claims 7 to 9.   The route search server includes route search application screen creation means for creating and creating each screen for displaying information including the route guidance information on the terminal device in XML, and the text extraction means is included in the XML The text excluding reserved words is extracted from the screen data and the route guidance information, the translation server is requested to translate, and the guidance information editing means creates translated screen data by combining the translated text and reserved words. The route search server according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the route search server is characterized by that. A route configured by connecting a first route search server having a first area as a service providing area, a second route search server having a second area as a service providing area, and a terminal device and a translation server via a network. A route guidance method in a guidance system,
The terminal device stores language information to be displayed,
Sending point information and the language information as route search conditions from the terminal device to the first route search server to make a route search request,
When the area including the point indicated by the point information is the second area, the first route search server determines that the route search server having the area as a service providing area is the second route search server, Sending the point information and the language information as the route search condition to the second route search server to request a route search,
The second route search server searches for an optimum route that satisfies the route search information, creates route guidance information based on the searched optimum route data, and the first route search together with the optimum route data. To the server,
In the second route search server, it is determined whether or not the language of the route guidance information is a language specified by the language information. If the language is not the language of the language information, a reserved word is excluded from the route guidance information. Extract the guide text and request translation to the translation server.
The translation server translates the guidance sentence into the language of the language information and transmits it to the second route search server,
The second route search server creates translated route guidance information that combines the translated guide sentence and the reserved word, and transmits the translated route guidance information to the terminal device via the first route search server. A route guidance method characterized by that.   When there is a request for route guidance based on the route guidance information transmitted to the terminal device, the second route search server determines the language of the route guidance information based on the language information. If the language information is not the language of the language information, the text extraction unit extracts a guidance sentence excluding reserved words from the route guidance information and requests the translation server to translate, and the translation server Translates the guidance sentence into the language of the language information and transmits it to the second route search server, and the guide information editing means of the second route search server includes the translated guide sentence, the reserved word, 15. The route guidance method according to claim 14, wherein translated route guidance information is combined to send the translated route guidance information to the terminal device.   The second route search server searches for an optimum route that satisfies the route search condition by the route search means, and the guidance information editing means creates route guidance information based on the searched optimum route data, and outputs it The language determining means determines whether or not the language of the route guidance information is a language specified by the language information. If the language is not the language of the language information, the text extracting means selects a reserved word from the route guidance information. A guide sentence to be excluded is extracted and a translation request is made to the translation server. The translation server translates the guide sentence into the language of the language information and transmits it to the second route search server. The guidance information editing means creates translated route guidance information combining the translated guidance text and the reserved word, and sends the translated route guidance information to the first route search server. Route guidance method according to claim 14, characterized in that the signal.   The route search condition includes a departure place in the first area, and the first route search server includes route search means and point information of at least one candidate contact that can reach the second area from the first area. Candidate contact extracting means for extracting the optimal route received from the second route search server by searching for an optimal route from the starting point to the candidate contact. The route guidance method according to any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein the route information is transmitted to the terminal device together with route information.   The route guidance information includes the reserved word and the guide sentence, the reserved word is a unique name including a place name and a route name, and the guide sentence is a sentence that guides a route. The route guidance method according to any one of claims 14 to 16.   The second route search server includes route search application screen creation means for creating and creating each screen for displaying information including the route guidance information on the terminal device in XML, and the text extraction means includes XML The screen data included in the route guidance information and the text excluding reserved words are extracted, the translation server is requested to translate, and the guidance information editing means combines the translated text and reserved words to translate screen data. The route guidance method according to any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein the route guidance method is created. A first route search server having a first area as a service providing area, a second route search server having a second area as a service providing area, and at least the first area connected to the first route search server via a network. A route guidance system comprising a terminal device and a route search mediation server connected to a plurality of route search servers,
The route search mediation server includes an area including a point indicated by point information as a route search condition received from the first route search server when receiving the point information determined that the first route search server is not a service providing area. Comprising a server determination means for determining a route search server having a service providing area as a service provision area,
The second route search server includes route search means for searching for an optimum route that satisfies the route search condition, and guide information editing means for creating route guide information based on data of the optimum route searched by the route search means. Output language determination means for determining whether or not the route guidance information is a language to be output to the terminal device, and text extraction means for extracting a guide sentence excluding reserved words from the route guidance information,
The terminal device stores language information to be displayed,
When the terminal device makes a route search request by transmitting the point information and the language information as route search conditions to the first route search server, the server determination means of the first route search server indicates the point indicated by the point information. When it is determined that the point indicated by the point information is not within the service providing area of the first route search server, the first route search server uses the point information and the language information as the route search condition. To the route search mediation server to request a route search,
In the route search mediating server, the route search server having the point as a service providing area by the server determination unit based on the route search request information received from the first route search server is the second route search server. If determined, the point information and the language information as the route search condition are transmitted to the second route search server,
The second route search server searches for an optimum route that satisfies the route search condition by the route search means, and the guidance information editing means creates route guidance information based on the searched optimum route data, Send to the route search intermediary server together with the data of the optimum route,
The route search mediation server transmits information on the optimum route received from the second route search server and route guidance information to the terminal device,
In the second route search server, the output language determination means determines whether or not the language of the route guidance information is a language specified by the language information. If the language is not the language information, the text extraction means Extracts a guide sentence excluding reserved words from the route guidance information and requests translation to the translation server, and the translation server translates the guide sentence into the language of the language information and transmits it to the second route search server. Then, the guide information editing means of the second route search server creates translated route guidance information combining the translated guide sentence and the reserved word, and searches the route guidance information for the translated route guidance information. A route guidance system which transmits to a mediation server or the terminal device.   When there is a request for route guidance based on the route guidance information transmitted to the terminal device, the second route search server determines the language of the route guidance information based on the language information. If the language information is not the language of the language information, the text extraction unit extracts a guidance sentence excluding reserved words from the route guidance information and requests the translation server to translate, and the translation server Translates the guidance sentence into the language of the language information and transmits it to the second route search server, and the guide information editing means of the second route search server includes the translated guide sentence, the reserved word, 21. The route guidance system according to claim 20, wherein translated route guidance information is combined to transmit the translated route guidance information to the terminal device.   The second route search server searches for an optimum route that satisfies the route search condition by the route search means, and the guidance information editing means creates route guidance information based on the searched optimum route data, and outputs it The language determining means determines whether or not the language of the route guidance information is a language specified by the language information. If the language is not the language of the language information, the text extracting means selects a reserved word from the route guidance information. A guide sentence to be excluded is extracted and a translation request is made to the translation server. The translation server translates the guide sentence into the language of the language information and transmits it to the second route search server. The guidance information editing means creates translated route guidance information combining the translated guidance text and the reserved word, and sends the translated route guidance information to the route search mediation server. Route guidance system according to paragraph 20 claims, characterized in that the signal.   The route search condition includes a departure place in the first area, and the first route search server includes route search means and at least one candidate contact point that can reach another area from the first area. Candidate contact extraction means for extracting information, and the route search means of the first route search server searches for an optimum route from the departure point to the candidate contact, and transmits the route to the route search mediation server, The route search mediation server includes candidate contact extraction means, and the second route search server determined by the server determination among the information on the candidate contact received from the first route search server and the optimal route to the candidate contact. The candidate contact point that reaches the area where the service is provided is extracted, and information on the extracted candidate contact point and the optimum route to the candidate contact point is transmitted to the second route search server, and the second route search point is transmitted. When receiving information on the optimum route from the candidate contact point to the point searched by the second route search server and route guidance information created based on the information on the optimum route from the server, information on the optimum route The route guidance system according to any one of claims 20 to 22, wherein the route guidance information is transmitted to the first route search server.   The route guidance information includes the reserved word and the guide sentence, the reserved word is a unique name including a place name and a route name, and the guide sentence is a sentence that guides a route. 21. A route guidance system according to item 20.   The second route search server includes route search application screen creation means for creating and creating each screen for displaying information including the route guidance information on the terminal device in XML, and the text extraction means includes XML The screen data included in the route guidance information and the text excluding reserved words are extracted, the translation server is requested to translate, and the guidance information editing means combines the translated text and reserved words to translate screen data. 21. The route guidance system according to claim 20, wherein the route guidance system is created. A first route search server having a first area as a service providing area, a second route search server having a second area as a service providing area, and at least the first area connected to the first route search server via a network. A route search intermediary server constituting a route guidance system comprising a terminal device and a route search intermediary server connected to a plurality of route search servers,
The route search mediation server includes an area including a point indicated by point information as a route search condition received from the first route search server when receiving the point information determined that the first route search server is not a service providing area. Comprising a server determination means for determining a route search server having a service providing area as a service provision area,
The second route search server includes route search means for searching for an optimum route that satisfies the route search condition, and guide information editing means for creating route guide information based on data of the optimum route searched by the route search means. Output language determination means for determining whether or not the route guidance information is a language to be output to the terminal device, and text extraction means for extracting a guidance sentence excluding reserved words from the route guidance information, The route search means searches for an optimum route that satisfies the route search condition, and the guidance information editing means creates route guidance information based on the searched optimum route data, and the route search mediation together with the optimum route data. To the server,
The terminal device stores language information to be displayed,
When the terminal device makes a route search request by transmitting the point information and the language information as route search conditions to the first route search server, the server determination means of the first route search server indicates the point indicated by the point information. When it is determined that the point indicated by the point information is not within the service providing area of the first route search server, the first route search server uses the point information and the language information as the route search condition. To the route search mediation server to request a route search,
In the route search mediating server, the route search server having the point as a service providing area by the server determination unit based on the route search request information received from the first route search server is the second route search server. When it is determined, the point information and the language information as the route search conditions are transmitted to the second route search server, and the information on the optimum route received from the second route search server and the route guidance information are transmitted to the terminal. A route search mediation server characterized by transmitting to a device.   The second route search server searches for an optimum route that satisfies the route search condition by the route search means, and the guidance information editing means creates route guidance information based on the searched optimum route data, and outputs it The language determining means determines whether or not the language of the route guidance information is a language specified by the language information. If the language is not the language of the language information, the text extracting means selects a reserved word from the route guidance information. A guide sentence to be excluded is extracted and a translation request is made to the translation server. The translation server translates the guide sentence into the language of the language information and transmits it to the second route search server. The guidance information editing means creates translated route guidance information combining the translated guidance text and the reserved word, and sends the translated route guidance information to the route search mediation server. 27. The route search mediation server according to claim 26, wherein the route search mediation server transmits the route guidance information received from the second route search server to the first route search server. .

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